I studied myself for a moment.
Very little remained of George the witch. The eyes of the wolf were sharp and impartial. The bloodstained fur lent me a bestial look, and the rain had flattened and slicked my fur down.
But even that couldn’t shock me out of my state.
I crept forward once more, then paused, my ear swiveling to focus on the forest behind me.
What was that?
Movement caught my eye, no more than a flicker.
But I stood, rounding on the noise with bared teeth. This was my hunt! I wouldn’t let anything in the forest interfere.
My paws were light on the ground, eyes searching the dark forest around me. The sound that had drawn me was gone, and I couldn’t see anything out there. Had I been mistaken? Was it some trick of the witches to pull me away from them?
That thought brought my anger bubbling right back to the surface and I turned, teeth bared, back to the cabin.
Suddenly the pawsteps returned, and when I turned again I saw a shape barrel towards me, the canine snapping its fangs close to my throat.
Black fur and ember-like eyes were all I could make out before I snarled, pouncing forward. This was mine! No others were welcome here while I was hunting!
The wolf-like shape danced out of reach. It was larger than me, and familiarity tickled my nose. My wolf shouldered her way back, disregarding the scent. It wasn’t important right now! We could sort this out later, when the coven leader was dead.
But the other creature didn’t understand propriety. It danced in again, tongue lolling playfully, and snapped at my leg. I lunged once more, teeth nearly closing on its tail as it suddenly jumped onto my shoulders and pushed me down. Teeth flashed but it only snapped its jaws close to my face, then took off, tail disappearing in the dark.
It was enough to draw my full ire and I snarled, taking off in the darkness after it. How dare this other creature interrupt! Didn’t it understand what I was? What I could do?
Paws slammed heavily onto the forest floor as I ran, chasing the black-furred creature first one way, then another. There was no need for stealth; the animal wasn’t trying to hide from me. It rounded a large tree and I did the same, losing it for a moment in the darkness.
Then, my eyes landed on the large dog as lightning illuminated the glade it had found. The canine stood still, panting, and made no move to stop me as I sped towards it with a loud, challenging growl.
No, it looked like it wanted me to come.
The thought barely struck me as strange and my mind could only focus on showing this creature the mistake it had made in interrupting my hunt. I would kill the witch after; for now I had eyes only for him.
I hit the edge of the glade at a run, seeing the dog lick his lips and crouch slightly. Would he run? Would he realize that I was here to tear out his throat and run? The idea of hunting him excited my wolf and I forced myself to run faster, my movements edged with glee.
But he didn’t run. He stood there, and when I lunged for him he did the same towards me, a roar exploding from his throat as fire suddenly licked at his form and his skin glowed under his fur like embers. Smoke billowed from his mouth, eyes wild and filled with fire.
The sight shocked me, fear suffusing me and I scrambled to cut off my attack.
Another shape blurred in my peripheral vision just as something knocked me to the ground, grip like iron around me as the human used his strength to pin my writhing, snarling form to the ground.
Was it the witch? Did she think this would work again? That I would allow her to control me-to subdue me once more?
“George!” I knew that voice. The voice that kept trying to get my attention while the hellhound circled us nervously, all traces of flame and ember gone.
I needed to get free. I had to get free. Fear rose in my throat, painting my movements with desperation as I fought to get free. I tore a claw on the ground, the pain going unnoticed.
“Akiva, do something!” the person roared.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” A bird shrieked, agreeing with the man’s words. “I don’t think she’s going to like it if I work magic on her.”
“Well I don’t think she likes me very much right now, either.”
I knew that voice. I knew them and there was something important I was forgetting. There had to be.
There was more past the hunt, past killing the witches. More past the here and the now. There had been something before I’d shifted. A reason I’d let myself get this far.
The hellhound was there again, pressing his face against mine, and when he pulled back a second later, he shifted to his human shape..
“I’m sorry I scared you.” He reached a hand out to me, but I snapped at him. He only twisted his fingers away from my fangs.
“Indra…” The man pinning me down murmured a warning.
Images pelted my eyes. Indra in his kitchen, holding a wound on his stomach. Akiva on the stairs, phylactery crushed in his hand.
My heart clenched painfully, stomach dropping past sea level, and I lost my grip on my wolf form.
Chapter 26
“Indra?” I gasped, the person pinning me to my stomach moving so he could lift me to my knees. “No. no!” I shook my head, trying to pull away. “Not again–I want to wake up!” Had this been part of my dream? Had all of this been part of that? My escape? Them finding me? I raised my hands, covering my head and digging my fingers into my hair. “Please I just want to wake up–“
“You are awake.” Akiva dropped to
